News in Brief:
– The Nigerian Federal Government has launched ‘Operation Empty the Store,’ a nationwide initiative to distribute agricultural equipment and inputs to farmers.
– This comes amid concerns over late input distribution, which has hindered food security efforts in states like Jigawa and Ebonyi, as highlighted by farmers.
The Nigerian Federal Government has launched Operation Empty the Store, a nationwide initiative to distribute agricultural equipment and inputs to farmers. Essentially, the move is aimed at enhancing food production while utilising resources effectively.
Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, announced the program during a workshop for Agriculture Correspondents, recently.
He emphasised that the stored equipment and inputs are meant for use, not to remain idle. Therefore, the ministry will be embarking on the initiative to support farmers and help them to feed the nation.
Focus on agricultural development and economic diversification
Additionally, Ogunbiyi stressed the importance of agriculture in addressing economic challenges and diversifying the economy. He reiterated the need to educate and mobilise Nigerians to embrace agriculture as a key driver of national development.
Furthermore, he commended the media for their role in public awareness and government accountability. He also outlined the government’s vision for agricultural development under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which focused on food security, job creation, and improving farmers’ livelihoods.
Similarly, Dr Joel Oruche, Director of the Department of Information, noted the ministry’s broad mandate, which encompasses food security, employment generation, wealth creation, agribusiness, and rural development. He highlighted the progress it has made in diversifying the economy through various ongoing projects and programs.
Late input distribution hampers food security
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s agricultural productivity hinges on the timely availability of essential farm inputs like fertilizers, seeds, and equipment.
Unfortunately, inconsistent and delayed distribution of these inputs has consistently hampered the nation’s efforts to achieve food self-sufficiency and export agricultural products.
Recent cases in point in this regard include the claim by farmers in Jigawa state that agro-dealers were sabotaging the government’s efforts, over the late distribution of inputs to farmers under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro Pocket (NAGS&AP) programme.
Also, the same situation in Ebonyi prompted calls for an investigation into the late distribution of inputs to farmers who were already in the harvest phase of the 2024 farming season.
These and similar incidents have jeopardised food security efforts over time.
Therefore, to address this critical challenge, experts are urging an immediate overhaul of the current system to guarantee farmers timely access to the necessary inputs.
This reform, they say, is crucial for enhancing food security within Nigeria and ultimately contributing to the nation’s goal of agricultural self-sufficiency.
